Ammunition-hoist.



C. D. SEEBERGER.

AMMUNITION HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1915.

1,185,249. Patented May 30,1916. 7

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (10.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

C. D. SEEBERGER.

AMMUNITION HOIST.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. 1915.

Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AMMUNITION-HOIST.

Substitute for application Serial No. 422,744, filed March 23, 1908.

Serial No. 50,963.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. SEEBERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ammunition-Hoists, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to ammunition hoists for use either in connection with war vessels or with fortifications, and consists of a hoist in which the conveyer is arranged to extend between the gun chamber and a chamber below the gun chamber and through a U-shaped well, whereby direct communication between the chambers is prevented, together with means for preventing the passage of incandescent particles or gas from one chamber to the other, and with certain features of construction, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which F igurc l is an elevation in section illusi trating diagrammatically the combination of the arrangement of parts embodying my invention when employed in connection with a rotatable turret; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectiOn on the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the parts connected with the mechanical rammer; Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the carriers; Fig. 7 is a plan of the carrier; Fig. 8 is a face view thereof; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the application of the invention in connection with a fortification where the gun is within a casemate.

My invention is applicable to guns whether arranged within a rotatable turret B, as shown in Fig. l, or in a casemate, as shown in Fig. 9, or in barbette, the gun in any case being supported upon or above a platform A which may be the bottom of the turret or platform or fioor of the casemate or barbette. In any case also there is below the gun and below the supporting platform a chamber X, which, in order to distinguish it, I term the ammunition chamber, as the ammunition may be stored therein, as in a fortification, or it may be a chamber between decks of a vessel with which the ammunition chambers proper communicate through doors as usual in war vessels.

Specification of Letters Patent.

This application filed September 16,

lVhatever may be the character of the structure in which my invention is employed there is between the gun chamber and the ammunition chamber a U-shaped well which may be within a fixed structure, as shown in Fig. 9, or within a casing C which is divided by a vertical partition 2, extending nearly to the bottom, in two sections, the upper end of one section communicating with the gun chamber, as through a hatchway 8, in the floor or platform A, While the upper end of the other section or branch communicates with the ammunition chamber X. Through the Ushaped hatchway extends any suitable character of conveyer which may be in the form of rails upon which carriers run, or, as shown, may be in the form of continuous cables or chains D, with any suitable number of carriers E, the chains and carriers together constituting the conveyer, and suitable guide pulleys 5 serve to properly guide the chains between the point in the chamber X where the load is received and some point adjacent to the breech of the gun where the load is to be delivered.

As shown the conveyer consists of two endless chains arranged side by side and supporting intermediately a suitable number of carriers E, each carrier having trunnions 6, 6, turning in bearings carried by the chains so that the carrier will maintain a vertical position throughout its travel, except when adjacent to the gun, when it may be swung to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, to bring the load opposite the staff or plunger 7 of a mechanical rammer, whereby the load is forced from the carrier into the breech.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the upper pulleys 6 are arranged above the gun, and the carrier will be carried upward by the travel of the chains and then down, and in order that it may then be swung horizontally to position the carrier is provided with a bearing 8 in the form of a roller and a bracket 9 is extended from the rammer support to such a position that as the carrier descends its bearing 8 will make contact with the upper edge of the bracket and the carrier will be swung to the horizontal position shown. In order to automatically arrest the movement of the conveyer as soon as the carrier is thus in position for its load to be discharged I make use of any suitable character of control device G, adapted to be shifted by contact with Patented May 30, 1916.

some part of the carrier as it assumes a hori- Zontal position and which will control the movement of the conveyer, causing it to stop. As shown the conveyer chains pass over pulleys, the shafts of which are provided with spur wheels 10 engaging with pinions 12 upon a driving shaft 13 driven by a suitable electric motor M, and the controller G is a circuitbreaker breaking the oircuitmto said motor. As shown there is a sliding bar 1% in contact with one of the terminals 15 of the circuit and provided with a lug 16 which completes the circuit when in contact with the other terminal 17 a spring 18 tending to hold the bar to this position. When however the carrier swings to the position shown in Fig. 4, the contact of a bracket thereof with the bar 14 pushes the latter inward in the direction of its arrow and separates the contacts and breaks the circuit.

In order that operations may be resumed after the load is discharged, I provide means whereby a section of the bracket is shifted from below the bearing 8 to allow the carrier to swing to a vertical position. As shown this section 19 is provided with a handle 20 extending through a slot in the bracket so that by shifting the said handle the section 19 may be carried back from its position below the bearing 8, when the carrier will swing downward and in so doing will be removed from contact with the bar 1 1, and the spring 18 will shift the bearing and closethecircuit, and start the driving mechanism. As the section 19 of the bracket should normally be in position tom-ake contact with the bearings 8, it is carried forward by means of a weight 21 upon a cord 22 passing over a pulley 23 and connected with the sliding section of the bracket.

In order to quickly deposit the load upon the respective carriers I provide a grid I which, as shown in Fig. 3, consists of a series of parallel fingers or bars, and I make each carrier E, Figs. 6 to 8, with a base frame 24 having horizontal bars 25 adapted to pass between the bars of the grid, and vertical retaining bars 26, so that as the carrier moves upward the bars 25 will pass be tween those of the grid upon which the load has been deposited and will constitute bearings which lift up the load from the grid without any manipulation, there being no necessity for any means for bolting the load to the carriers as the latter swinging upon their trunnions between the chains, always maintain a vertical position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 there is a rotatable turret, and the casing containing the well should preferably rotate with the turret and is therefore provided at the bottom with a stepbearing 80 which is concentric with the vertical axis of the turret, and all parts of the ammunition hoist including the driving mechanism are carried to rotate with the turret.

By thus interposing between the gun chamber and the ammunition chamber a U shaped well through which the conveyer extends or travels I interpose a trap between these two chambers as it would be 111050 improbable that any incandescent particles or gases carried downward in the section or branch of the trap which communicates with the gun chamber would be carried upward to the other branch and into the ammunition chamber. In *order howeverto in sure absolute safety I may fill the trap with a non-combustible gas, as for instance, carbonic acid gas which, being heavier than air, will tend to retain its position within the trap and which will constitute a flame-extinguishing barrier between the two chambers, and for further security I may fill the lower part. of the casing up to the lower edge of the partition 2 with a suitable liquid, as for instance mercury, as indicated by the dotted horizontal line at that point in Fig. 9 for example, which will permit the carriers and the load to pass through the same without detriment, while practically closing allcommunication between the two chambers to incandescent particles or gases.

While I have shown in Figs. 1, 2 and5 the conveyer so arranged that the carriers are carried between the breech of the gun and the rammer, this is not necessary as the conveyer may be so constructed and supported thatthe carriers will be carried to positions at one side of the breech todeliver the load onto a supporting platform 40 at the rear of the breech and between the breech and the rammer as shown in Fig. 9. It is not necessary in all cases that the conveyer shall extend downward into the chamber X from the top of the inner branch of thewell, as in Figs. 1 and 2, as the load may be delivered onto the conveyer from an ele vated platform Y, Fig. 9.

While I have shown a conveyer consisting of chains and carriers traveling in one direction, the U-shaped well may be used with reciprocating conveyors, of any suitable character, operated by hand or a motor, and the carriers may be constructed to carry the projectiles and explosive together or successively.

When my invention is employed on war vessels the casing or trunk will be designed to occupy a minimum of space at the lower deck or ammunition chamber to provide head-room, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 where it is shown smaller at the lower end and broadened out after leaving the desired head-space.

\Vithout limiting myself to the construction shown, I claim 1. In an ammunition hoist, the combination with a gun and ammunition chamber, of a double well extending downward and communicating with the chamber and closed at the lower end, the two sections communicating with each other at the lower ends, and carriers and means whereby they are conveyed from the chamber down one section and up the other section in proximity to the breech of the gun.

2. In an ammunition hoist, the combination with a gun and ammunition chamber, of a double well extending downward and communicating with the chamber and closed at the lower end, the two sections communieating with each other at the lower ends, and carriers and means whereby a succession of carriers is conveyed from the chamber down one section and up the other section in proximity to the breech of the gun.

3. In an ammunition hoist, the combination with a turret and its gun and ammunition chamber, of a double well extending downward below the turret and communicating with the chamber and closed at the lower end, the two sections connected only at the lower ends, and a conveyer provided with carriers traveling in one direction, to conduct said carriers from one well section to the other and down one section and up in the other.

4. In an ammunition hoist, the combination with a gun and ammunition chamber, of a double well extending downward below the gun and communicating with the chamber and closed at the lower end, the two sections communicating only at the lower ends, and carriers and means whereby they are conveyed from the chamber down one section and up the other section in proximity to the breech of the gun, and means for automatically arresting each carrier when adjacent to the breech.

5. In an ammunition hoist, the combination of a gun and ammunition chamber, a double well extending downward below the gun and communicating with the chamber and closed at the lower end, the two sections communicating only at the lower ends, a conveyer extending through the well and having carriers, and means for automatically arresting the conveyer as a carrier is brought to a position adjacent to the breech of the gun.

6. In an ammunition hoist, the combination of a gun and ammunition chamber, a double well extending downward below the gun and communicating with the chamber and closed at the lower end, the two sections communicating only at the lower ends, a conveyer extending from the chamber through the well and to a position adjacent to the gun, said conveyer having load carriers, and a mechanical rammer arranged to direct the loads of the carriers to the bore of the gun.

7. The combination with a gun platform having a hatch, a chamber below the same, and a conveyer for ammunition, of a U- shaped well closed at the lower end and receiving the conveyer and communicating at the upper end of one section with the hatch in the platform and at the other with the chamber below the platform.

8. The combination with a rotatable turret, a chamber below the turret, gun and conveyer for ammunition, of a casing connected to rotate with the turret and containing a U-shaped well closed at the lower end and receiving the conveyer and communicating with the turret and with the chamber below the turret as set forth.

9. The combination with a rotatable turret, a chamber below the same, and a casing connecting the chamber and turret closed at the lower end and divided by a partition extending toward the bottom of the casing, of a series of carriers and flexible connections, and guide pulleys supporting the said connections in both sections of the casing and adjacent to the breech of the gun.

10. The combination with a gun, an ammunition chamber and a conveyer for carrying loads from the chamber to the gun, of a well closed at the lower end and divided by a vertical partition extending nearly to the bottom and receiving the conveyer.

11. The combination with a rotatable turret, gun, mechanical rammer, and ammunition chamber below the gun, of a casing closed at the lower end and connected to rotate with the turret and divided by a partition extending nearly to the bottom of the casing, and a conveyer extending through both sections of the casing and outside of the latter to a point adjacent to the breech of the gun, and into the ammunition chamber.

12. The combination wit-h a gun and rammer arranged within a gun chamber, and with an ammunition chamber below the gun, of an intermediate U-shaped well closed at the lower end, one branch communicating with the gun chamber and the other with the ammunition chamber, and a conveyer extending from one chamber to the other through both branches of the well.

13. The combination with a gun and rammer arranged within a gun chamber, and with an ammunition chamber below the gun, of an intermediate U-shaped Well closed at the lower end, one branch communicating with the gun chamber and the other with the ammunition chamber, and a flexible conveyer having a series of carriers and means for guiding the conveyer to conduct the carriers from one chamber to the other and through both branches of the well.

14. The combination with a gun and rammer arranged within a gun chamber, and with an ammunition chamber below the un,

of an intermediate U-shaped well close at the lower end, one branch communicating with the gun chamber and the other with the ammunition chamber, and a double chain conveyer provided with carriers, and guide pulleys supporting the chains to travel up and down through each branch of the well and from one to the other and into both chambers.

15. The combination with a gun platform having a hatchway and gun and an ammunition chamber below the platform, of a casing divided by a partition to form a U- shaped well and closed at the lower end, one branch communicating with the hatchway in the platform and the other with the ammunition chamber, and a conveyer extending through both branches and to a position adjacent to the gun.

16. The combination with a gun platform having a hatchway and gun, and an ammunition chamber below .the platform, of a casing divided by a partition to form a U- shaped well and closed at the lower end, one branch communicating with a hatchway in the platform and the other with the ammunition chamber, and a conveyer extending through both branches and to a position adjacent to the gun and downward in the ammunition chamber to a position near the floor of the latter.

17. The combination with a gun and platform, af a U-shaped well closed at the lower end, a chamber below the gun, a double chain conveyer and pulleys supporting the conveyer to extend through both branches of the well and from the chamber to a position adjacent to the gun.

18. The combination with a gun and platform, of a U-shaped well closed at the lower end, a chamber below the gun, a double chain conveyer having carriers, pulleys supporting the conveyer to extend through both branches of the well and to a position adjacent to the gun, means for driving the conveyer, and automatic means for arresting the conveyer when the carrier thereof is adjacent to the breech of the gun.

19. The combination with a gun and ammunition chamber below the same, of a conveyer, and a U-shaped well receiving the conveyer and containing at its lower end a body of fluid heavier than air, for the purpose set forth.

20. The combination with a gun chamber and ammunition chamber and conveyer, of an intervening well containing a liquid trap closing communication between the two chambers, the conveyer extending through the said liquid.

21. The combination with a gun and mechanical rammer, of a conveyer having side chains, and a carrier pivoted to swing be tween the chains and provided with a bearing, a bracket arranged adjacent to the rammer to contact with the bearing to shift the carrier automatically into position opposite the rammer, and means for driving the conveyer, and control devices for said means arranged to be shifted to stop the conveyer as the carrier is tilted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. SEEBERGER. lVitnesses:

E. G. ELDRIDGE, BERTHA E. BESSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cent: each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

